CanAm 560

[Roadracer_Al]

I've been offered a smokin' deal on a mid- '80s CanAm 560. A "get it out of my garage now and we'll sort out the money later" kind of deal.

It's got a long list of recently-fixed stuff, the motor has been lightly massaged, and the suspension rebuilt. And a spare frame!? The forks are KTM USD off one of their 250 MX bikes. The motor is a 4-valve Rotax, which should be in the mid 50-hp range. This thing was ***radical*** when it was new. I look at it, and think that there is no way that this is a 22-year-old bike.

I'm sorely tempted. Upside: lighter than the DRZ (265 lbs), hella strong motor, parts support for the motor (which is still a popular dirt track motor), good condition. Downside: probably a 4-speed trans, drum rear brake, small gas tank, chassis/body parts are probably impossible to find (I'd be stuck building or adapting literally anything that breaks), and almost certainly can't be street registered in CA, although possibly as a home-built.

What does the DAMN brain trust think about this bike?

[Bucho]

Come on Al, you could probably fab whatever you need.


Looks like a sweet desert bike.

[Rut Row]

dig deep into the spare parts bin brother - you undoubtedly have a disk rear brake laying around that you could adapt and we know you could lace up a new rear wheel

and wasn't it you who said one can never have too many bikes or projects?

[Roadracer_Al]

You know, you're both right. A thought I had this afternoon was that it would probably be pretty easy to buy a complete modern MX rear end complete with disk, and commonly-available sprockets.

In fact, I should really look at this as buying a great, reliable motor (I discovered that KTM & ATK have used the same motor in similar bikes) with a functional bike wrapped around it. Hell, this DAMN thing looks to be in better shape than any of my other bikes.

The only stuff I couldn't fabricate are the body parts, but there really isn't much bodywork.

[mdubya]

Charge the guy to haul it away. Then...maybe.

[Laoch]

If ya don't get it; you'll regret it

[Roadracer_Al]

I've decided to get it.

The final straw is that the motor & chassis were recently rebuilt - a NOS (new old stock) frame was installed ??!!, all new suspension bearings, new HiComp piston, WebCam camshaft, the head ported and new valves. The motor work was done by a pro mechanic experienced w/Rotax motors. Oh, and it's a 6-speed. This thing should be good for high-50's to low '60s HP! Heck yeah!

Now I just need to figure out how to register it as a street legal Dual Sport here in Kaliphornya. It's definitely old enough - there is some kind of cut-off at 1995, something to do with VIN numbers.

[Rut Row]

then ride the TAT backwards and come visit!

[mdubya]

Just sayin'.

[mdubya]